UK Construction Journal - Issue 1 - April 2026 - Flipbook - Page 15
CASE STUDY 02.
Transfer Structure Intervention & £5M+ Value Engineering
The Landmark Tower – Abu Dhabi
Project Overview
The Landmark Tower is a 300m mixed-use skyscraper in Abu
Dhabi comprising hotel, residential and commercial functions.
Main contractor: Habtoor / CCC Joint Venture
Engineer: Buro Happold
Client: UAE Government
At mid-tower level (L35–L36), major outrigger and transfer
walls were introduced to redistribute gravity and lateral loads
across the tower.
The Structural Problem
The L35 transfer wall and associated slab imposed extreme
temporary construction loads during casting.
Without intervention, the proposed approach required:
•
•
•
•
•
Extensive multi-level back-propping
Massive slab load redistribution
Significant construction congestion
Programme delay
Elevated risk of slab overstress
–
Construction Innovation
The system:
The default solution was over-conservative, obstructive and
extremely costly.
•
•
•
•
•
My Intervention
I engineered and delivered a dedicated steel truss transfer
support system to:
•
•
•
•
•
Carry the full L35 transfer wall load
Directly transfer loads to L34 columns and core
Eliminate extensive slab back-propping
Control load leakage paths
Allow controlled stressing sequence
–
–
–
–
This controlled interaction between slab and transfer system
was critical in preventing overstress.
Value Engineering Impact
By implementing the steel truss support strategy instead of
conventional back-propping:
Instead of allowing transfer wall loads to disperse into
slabs requiring huge back-propping areas:
I designed curved steel trusses (W16, W17, W18 types)
Connected directly to core walls and columns
Used bolted and welded truss segments assembled
in position
Anchored using cast-in plates and high-capacity
anchor systems
Eliminated:
•
•
•
•
•
This created a controlled load path, not a diffuse one.
2.
–
–
–
Eliminated multi-level slab back-propping
Reduced construction congestion
Allowed slab casting sequence continuity
Controlled transfer wall stressing phase
Reduced cumulative deflection risk
Maximum share of slab load imposed on transfer wall was
limited to 7% under construction load case.
Engineering Strategy
1. Direct Load Transfer Concept
–
This was not theoretical — it was physically load
tested on site.
Multiple floors of heavy shoring
Extensive labour and material
Programme delays
Temporary material logistics
Rework risk
Achieved:
•
•
•
•
Structural Verification
Full penetration butt weld utilization ratios
confirmed SAFE.
Anchor bolt tensile and shear interaction
checks satisfied.
Five increment load testing protocol up to proof
and strength loads was executed to validate
truss performance.
£5,000,000+ construction savings
Significant time reductionProgramme delays
Reduced structural risk during critical transfer stage
Cleaner construction sequencing
This was not cost cutting.
This was structural logic applied at scale.
UK CONSTRUCTION JOURNAL
13
